neighbours, while the wooden-box, No. 8, had been plundered.
The numbers a wanting in the Table belonged to hives from which he had taken the honey, or which he had fed, and were not, therefore, legitimate subjects of experiment.
HUMBLE-BEES.
We have now to notice the nature and habits of another tribe of the social Apidae, familiarly known by the name of Humble-Bees; but so large a space has been already devoted to a more valuable species, that our descriptions must be comparatively brief. Humble-Bees, as far as we know, have never been domesticated, or made directly subservient to the interests of mankind; although it is not improbable that means might be found of turning their labours to account, did not the possession of a more useful species remove all inducement to make the attempt. They constitute, however, a very interesting portion of our insect population for a variety of reasons. Their economy, although greatly inferior in interest to that of the hive bee, is still extremely curious; their comparatively large size, and gay colours, render them conspicuous objects in our fields and gardens; the untiring diligence with which they seek their food among the blossoms "so busy and so
